Editing Piqua, Ohio (section)

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Fort Piqua Hotel.jpg|thumb|[[Fort Piqua Hotel]] is one of four sites in Piqua listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Miami County, Ohio|National Register of Historic Places]]]]
[[Fort Piqua Plaza]] began as the "Orr-Statler Block" building at the corner of Main and High Streets was erected in 1891 and long dominated downtown. For many years its core tenant was a hotel of more than 100 rooms, first known as the "Plaza," later as the "Favorite," and finally as the "Fort Piqua." The hotel closed in the 1980s.

The building's street-level commercial spaces were occupied by a variety of businesses over the years, including a barbershop, grocer, bank, the local telephone company business office, [[Western Union]], a combination bus station and taxi office with a very popular soda fountain and lunch counter, and others.  Just prior to the start of the [[Prohibition era]], the hotel's bar was moved to the basement level. It is rumored to have closed only its outside entrance during those years, operating as a [[speakeasy]].

The building suffered disrepair and neglect for a period, and renewal plans seemed unable to secure funding. In a public-private redevelopment, the building was fully renovated during a two-year project. Since 2008, its major tenant has been the city's public library. The building is now known as Fort Piqua Plaza.<ref name="hartley">Hartley, Susan. [http://www.dailycall.com/main.asp?SectionID=86&SubSectionID=164&ArticleID=150861&TM=76040.6 "Piqua Public Library dedicated in renovated Fort Piqua Plaza"], ''[[Piqua Daily Call]]'', October 20, 2008</ref>

Beginning in 1886, there were 14 companies in Piqua set up that sold underwear.<ref name=APUnderwearfest>{{cite news |agency=[[Associated Press]] |title=Ohio town celebrates annual Underwear Fest |url=https://journaltimes.com/news/national/ohio-town-celebrates-annual-underwear-fest/article_fc5687c9-f11d-57d7-be91-b4dad1309090.html |access-date=September 18, 2020 |newspaper=[[Journal Times]] |date=October 5, 1990 |language=en}}</ref> There were underwear manufacturers in the city until 1993.<ref name=Whatthislocal>{{cite web|last=Robinson|first=Amelia|url=https://www.dayton.com/lifestyles/why-this-local-city-underpants-are-all-over-blockbuster-series/0gygE5mQr9yFlUv8IU8rVP/|title=What this local city's underpants have to do with blockbuster series|publisher=[[Cox Enterprises]]|date=2017-10-02|access-date=2023-08-09}}</ref>

The Underwear Festival, in which participants wore underwear publicly and which had entertainment events, was established in 1988.<ref name=Whatthislocal/> Each instance was for two days. In 1990, the [[Associated Press]] stated: "Organizers cautioned that the parade is a family affair."<ref name=APUnderwearfest/> A lack of volunteers led to the disestablishment of the festival in 1998.<ref name=Whatthislocal/>